lecherous looks from men
on sidewalks / in classrooms / airports
i turn my head / i tune them out
i don’t need catcalls / low-pitched moans
under-the-breath whistles / vulgar gestures
i sing the music / in my mind
celebrate / at the very edge of my soul
stride / with unwavering grace
too big to ignore / hey guys
i've heard it all before
Hear us roar! I was hooked by your title. Towards the end of my ghastly marriage, I would crank Helen Reddy on the stereo and belt out "Hit the Road, Jack", to nasty glares from my soon-to-be-ex. LOL. I was not too subtle, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteNice one
ReplyDeleteMuch💛love
Dearest Helen,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, we stride with unwavering grace out of sight for them...!
Hugs,
Mariette
I remember that back in the 1970s it was very common, in the UK at least, for grown men to shout obscenities to teen-aged girls who were on their way to school. I hope that there has been some progress since then. Has there really been any though?
ReplyDeleteSome. (In Australia.) Not enough.
DeleteLove the reference to Helen! (Who, sadly, died last year.) What a powerful song that was/is, and how wonderfully she presented it!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your defiant, confident poem celebrating what she helped us become.
This is why girls don't want to become women. I declared myself a feminist at 8 years old, back in 1973. I'm too old to still have to be getting angry about this crap, but here we are. Men need to call each other out on it too. Maybe things have gotten better in some ways but it seems they've gotten worse in others.
ReplyDeleteI remember in high school (early to mid 70's) we thought NOT getting a cat call was insulting. We pretended to be offended. Things were just starting to change. They haven't changed enough.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the more things seem like they're changing, the more they stay the same... I agree with previous comments- men need to start calling each other out ...sooner the better.
ReplyDeleteHelen, that wasn't my world growing to an adult and it never has been. My first college semester I took non credit dance lessons. I've always gotten along fine with girls except I run when one taller than I am gets too close. I get out the next stop when one gets in the elevator with me and there's just us too. Duno why?
ReplyDelete..
I remember the Helen Reddy song....still a long way to go gals !
ReplyDeleteI thought you were going to say 'sorry guys, she's taken!" But your last line works even better.
ReplyDeleteIt goes to treating people with respect, period. You've expressed that well, Helen. Hear, Hear!
ReplyDelete“in numbers / too big to ignore” ... I especially love this point.
ReplyDelete"sorry guys", indeed. And glorious girls who understand the game and know their worth.
ReplyDeletei hope the situation has changed for the better. and it's great to write about it in a fun way. :)
ReplyDeleteSome things never change. At least, in some parts of the world catcalls,
ReplyDeleteunder-the-breath whistles, etc., are still an everyday experience for girls. So much can be said about. But a brilliant poem!
I love the dismissive ending!
ReplyDeleteyeah, you sing it sister! you are my kind of people helen, and i love the way you write, keep on keeping on!
ReplyDeleteI bless the invention of the headphone to make it easier to drown those guys out. I'm 100% on board with you.
ReplyDelete